Nicolai Helius AM - Setup Database

Also "no flames please" you can do that on other posts or create a new one if you need to vent, let this be an information data base to assist not to attack or hinder. We can hopefully build a great source of valuable information.

Still waitig on some stuff hence odd mix of wheels etc. Will probably run 2.4 NN's on Hope 5.1 Hoops. CCDB to be fitted. May or may not change fork. It's working so well after being fitted with 09 internals that there's really no justification to change it.

Thanks dude, i was out today and jesus altho it was pretty bad weather the AM just ooozeeesssssss speed! Loving it big time, and as for that CCDB one word AMAZING!...
It took everything in its stride, i dont know if its the AM/CCDB combo or one or the other but my god it just flies never loosing traction. Great day!!!

I took it pretty easy last Sunday when i demo'd the AM but now its all mine i can rip it big time! Hopefully in time i'll be able to keep up with Dipper & The_Lecht

Derekr - Souds like you've been having fun mate - good on ya! I've spoken to a few people who run the CCDB and by all accounts, it is a paradigm shift in terms of shock performance - there's nothing, save perhaps the new BOS Stoy, that even comes close in terms of performance. I'm sure the AM is adding big time to the deal but the CCDB has been custom built basically, for that bike.

You're coming to this from a VP Free aren't you - how does it compare and is it easier to pedal around?

Geetee1972, The AM is night and day to pedal although completly different bikes i dont feel the AM is any less capable and its very easy to pedal! The VP had alot of strong points but the AM is a huge step forward for me.

Going for a lighter build using Fox Float 36 RC2's on the front and Fox Float RP23 on the rear. Also swapping to new XTR cranks, Lighter seat and gona go with Nicolai's recomendation of a CK steelset to cover the deep cup insertion deal.

Can't resist to show you the AM of the Australian importator of Nicolai bikes, he sometimes comes on the french forum to show us his bikes, and we're always
Here it is, just beautiful ! I'll try to get a list of the parts

Thanks guys, Geetee the brakes are v light and have not boiled yet if I go to bigger hills I'll just put the M4's on I've got in the garage but for general messing and winter the mono pro's are great

Mate you could have v-brakes on that thing and it would still be sweeter than a Victoria's Secret catalogue!

My brother, who has only just got into mountain biking, has the same brakes on his Cotic Soul (a hardtail). We were out on the weekend and he managed to boil them on a 3 minute decent. Admittedly he was using them a lot given that he's a novice and on a hardtail, but it was his first experience of what happens when you boil a hydraulic brake. When you don't know what to expect, pulling the lever and having a big fat f*** all happen when you're already going too fast is pretty scary.

Hi Derek, headset is a calculated risk Nicolai have said they will warranty the frame bar the headtube, although I may change to a reset Ti.

With regard to brakes I have a set of M4's on the Missus bike but am waiting to see what becomes available over the winter in the mean time the brakes have far more power than my tires have grip in the mud!

Maybe you should try the tyre setup i'm running as i honestly cant beleive the grip i had on sunday in the mud! Its all a preference thing some people dont like hugely powerful brakes. I love the moto V2's, the only change i see happening brake wise is a set of tech lever's if they are as good as everyone says. As for the weight i've hit the sweetspot for me so i see no need to save any more. As i said i'd be happy to add a 1lb if required!
I'm also running a std. CK headset still waiting for the steelset to arrive, do you know the CK Ti is heavier than a std. one?

I've attached a couple of pics i took down at Fetteresso on Sunday, It was bloody cold so just snapped a couple. I meant to take a couple at the end of the ride as my nice white wheels ended up nearer the colour of the frame after and encounter with a mud bog!

I didn't mean to knock the grip of the Mountain Kings, but it gets very slippy round this way (wiltshire) you actually get some good rock to ride on! The reason I was waiting on brakes was hope did them for me as favour with 180 rotor (friend of friend) so the front is pretty powerfull. If i do change then it will probably be to either Moto techV2 or formula one but I have tried to keep as much of the bike European if not British so probably the Hopes. They'll need changing for the mega anyhow.

I have Formula The Ones on my Ion, with 200mm rotors front and rear. I've had Hope M4s and Avid Juicy Carbons and have boiled both on long Alpine decents. The Formulars however have been awesome and never boiled once, not even on 15minute+ decents in Chamonix. They are truly awersome brakes.

Forgot to mention 2.0 Mud X tyres, Red Hope 70mm stem, 09 crud race guard and Brooks Ti swift saddle in Honey for a bit of classic style and 'comfort' (after its been broken in on the racer set up on the turbo trainer).

Ozzy if we were talking about cross country racing then yes less than 2.0 all the way but I wouldn't say that on soft ground just because the bike is called an AM that I should not use below a 2.4 tyre. I just change tyres with the weather and kind of riding I'm doing I've got every thing in the garage from Maxxis 310's to 2.5 Highrollers just depends on what i'm doing.

ps. Maxxis 310's may be the lightest tyre possible but it also has the least grip possible unless your riding on short grass! then its great. Suicidal on fireroad and I thought any tyre could manage that

ozzy - you'll be telling us next everyone in Oz wears lycra skin suits and freaks out to pumping Euro dance music

When i left the UK tyre sizing and choice wasn't what it is now. And i have only ridden in muddy conditions once here as we are 99% dry hardpack and dusty conditions. I realize there is more of a job dialling in the correct tyre for the different conditions yous have there. I run 1 type for winter months (nevegals) and another for summer (small block 8) as its garanteed to be dry, yous guys could have different conditions every ride.

Garry , funny story- back when i started riding Mtb again (1yr ago) i thought this clipped in stuff looked a bit dangerous so i bought a set of DMR V12's , i had them on for 25mins until they took a bite out of my leg then limped home. And yes FR clipless too.

Ah yes Ozzy that'll be why I've bought myself a set of fox launch shin/knee pads as I don't want to suffer the same fate your shin did! By the way I'll be riding XC clipped in and AM rides clipped in but not going learning to jump big clipped in! At my local club we have a range of jumps on the hill from 2ft high tables right through to big step downs and a 50ft gap jump and yes it really is 50ft we measured it! see it at http://www.mtbmovies.com/movies.php?id=750

I am just on the little stuff at the moment and I am hoping the AM and the flat pedals give me the confidence to go big

Im not a fan of clipped in pedals, to be honest a pair of 5-10s and a good set of flats is all thats required. I always used to use V12/V8 pedals but now i've moved on to Easton flatboys i wouldnt go back. I do believe the burtec's are a step up again

I hope you have more luck with your Burgtec pedals. The quality can be a bit hit and miss. I've had two pairs, still got one set after two years, but the other set caused me no end of problems. I managed to destroy the pedal threads on two cranks and literally couldn't get them into the third before Burgtec finally accepted the threads were fractionally too large! Oh and the pedal body seized onto the axle on both sets.